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Re: Favorite Non Buddhist Buddhist movies

A Fistful of Dollars (the 1964 Western with Clint Eastwood). For this, I have to acknowledge Dean Sluyter's book Cinema Nirvana: Enlightenment Lessons from the Movies, which discusses 15 movies that people might not normally associate with Buddhist themes. He describes Eastwood's character as stillness in action and "a walking embodiment of transcendence." What he does best is "nothing." He is neither caught up in attachment to getting paid nor aversion to getting shot.

If this discussion thread is particularly appealing to anyone in the New England area, you might want to check out Barre Center for Buddhist Studies (https://bcbs.dharma.org), which is hosting Dean Sluyter November 7-9th on the theme of enlightenment stories in the movies.

Re: Favorite Non Buddhist Buddhist movies

. . . (didn't finish the post before it was sent . . .)
The red pill (or was it the blue pill?) representing some sort of awakening to a true reality. I think the Matrix movies are all a bit garbled, and there's clearly other systems of thought thrown in (Neo = the One - it's an anagram, people! - who comes back from the dead to save the human race). But when I've made attempts to explain Buddhism to people, I've often heard them make this comparison.
Simon.

Re: Favorite Non Buddhist Buddhist movies

Just some favorite movies:
Around the Bend
First Snow
La Pointe Courte
Close to Eden---My all time fave--filmed in Mongolia, Russian film director Nikita Mikhalkov
documentaries: 31 Birch Street, Manda Bala
recently seen and quite wonderful: Zero Kelvin, and Kristin Lavrensdatter. The Roe's Room---absolutely a beauty of a film (an opera based on the film maker's life).
In the western genre: The Hired Hand, The Missing.
El Topo a very interesting film--I guess psychedelic western is what it might be called.
Also: Ballad of the Sad Cafe and Waiting for the Moon

When I was home mending from surgeries and had to sit in a passive exercise chair for 6-8 hours a day (and I don't watch TV), well--I figured 3-4 films and I'd be done with my 'job' for the day. So I saw a great number of films. It's a shame I have no mind for names of actors, filmmakers,
I just let myself be immersed in the sheer pleasure of the film. I don't do thinking, just letting the film take me along.
One thing wonderful about watching film at home is the 'bonus' features. I love the commentaries and hearing about aspects of the film making process itself.

As I look at the titles which surfaced immediately for me--one common feature: going beyond if not breaking expectations.

Re: Favorite Non Buddhist Buddhist movies

Originally Posted by Janice

A Fistful of Dollars (the 1964 Western with Clint Eastwood). For this, I have to acknowledge Dean Sluyter's book Cinema Nirvana: Enlightenment Lessons from the Movies, which discusses 15 movies that people might not normally associate with Buddhist themes. He describes Eastwood's character as stillness in action and "a walking embodiment of transcendence." What he does best is "nothing." He is neither caught up in attachment to getting paid nor aversion to getting shot.

I also like "the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly." When I was a teen, when I saw this movie, I thought Eli Wallach was Mexican. :mrgreen: It wasn't later that I found that he was Jewish dude. :shock: :mrgreen:

Re: Favorite Non Buddhist Buddhist movies

Let me add to the list here--just treated a friend of mine to a viewing of Bubba Ho-tep,
just a wonderful spoof of a 'mummy film,' staring....Elvis Presley!
If you ever wanted to know what really happened to Elvis...
enjoy!